David Attenborough's latest documentary shows the natural world in peril. But the solutions are already in place - a nature friendly future is possible.
Embracing organic can save our wild isles Rob Percival | 28th April 2023 | Comment Organic Rob Percival Pesticides Regenerative Farming Wild Isles Biodiversity Soil Association bee image David …
Researchers claim the benefits of combining conservation and food production through organic farming are not enough to make up for the drop in yields
Conservation and food production should be kept separate says study The Ecologist | 6th May 2010 News Food And Farming Organic Biodiversity Wildlife University Of Leeds Soil Association …
Farming should not only sustain people with healthy food, writes Jigmi Y. Thinley. If humans are to survive on Earth, it must also revitalise nature and sustain vital planetary systems, instead of poisoning and over-exploiting them. And to do that farming must be organic.
Earth's vitality and the power of happiness Jigmi Y. Thinley | 19th June 2014 Activism Food Farming Oceans Climate Change Water broad-beans-cut.jpg Farming should not only sustain people with healthy …
To feed the world we must abandon not just GMOs but all diversity-destroying selective crop breeding, organic farmer John Letts told Oliver Tickell. Only by using biodiverse local seed mixtures that evolve in the field can food production adapt to climate change without ever-increasing chemical inputs, and meet human needs for wholesome nourishment.
Farming with the grain - John Letts and his evolutionary 'made for organic' heritage seeds Oliver Tickell | 10th November 2016 Other Farming Food Organic Biodiversity Seeds GMOs UK letts-cut.jpg To …
First global analysis of world’s most abundant creatures reveals more animals live in the far north than the tropics.
The 'hidden world beneath our feet' Marianne Brooker | 24th July 2019 News Crowther Lab Nematodes Biodiversity soybean_cyst_nematode_and_egg_sem.jpg First global analysis of world’s most abundant …
On current trends the world will contain 33 billion tonnes of plastic by 20150, writes Mae Wan Ho, and much of it will litter the oceans, concentrating toxins and damaging marine life throughout the food chain. The alternative is to classify the most toxic plastics as 'hazardous waste', and for all plastics to be reused and recycled in 'closed loop' systems.
Fighting the plastic plague in our oceans Dr Mae-Wan Ho | 13th February 2015 News Oceans Waste Toxics Recycling beach-plastic-qr-mexico-cut.jpg On current trends the world will contain 33 billion …
Less meat, fewer pesticides can mean more food, more future.
Europe can go organic Staff Reporter | 21st February 2019 News Organic Farming Soil Association Biodiversity Thought Leaders family-farming-cut.jpg Less meat, fewer pesticides can mean more food, …
Already 56,000 people have pledged to support a global 'internet seed swap' initiative promoted by Avaaz, writes Julian Rose. Trouble is, the plans are deeply flawed, and have been developed without consultation with major seed saving groups worldwide.
Avaaz's global 'ebay of seeds' - how did they get it so wrong? Julian Rose | 16th July 2014 Comment Food Farming Biodiversity GMOs Corporations Technology vandana-protest-cut.jpg The Secretary of …
Orcas from Puget Sound and the Strait of Georgia are under threat,in large part due to toxic organic compounds in the marine food chain, writes Sierra Rayne. To give them a fighting chance, the nearby community of Victoria, British Columbia must install advanced sewage treatment - rather than just dump its wastewater largely untreated into the orcas' ocean home.
… working on the environmental fate of toxic organics such as PBDEs and dioxins in the …
India has recently relaxed laws around gene-edited crops, despite concerns about 'unpredictable' risks to health and biodiversity.
Concerns as India relaxes rules around gene-edited crops Bharat Dogra | 4th April 2022 | News Food And Farming Biodiversity Indian farmer working in field India has recently relaxed laws around …
160 global groups have called for a moratorium on new 'genetic extinction' technology at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity meeting in Cancun, Mexico. Gene drive technology, they say, poses serious and irreversible threats to biodiversity, national sovereignty, peace and food security.
Biodiversity Convention call to block new 'genetic extinction' GMOs GMWatch The Ecologist | 6th December 2016 News GMOs Science Biodiversity Un Mexico aphids-cut.jpg 160 global groups have called for …
Rising levels of carbon dioxide don't just cause global warming, writes Jason Hall-Spencer. Another consequence is acidifying oceans - which promises to disrupt marine ecology around the world, killing off oysters and corals, while boosting 'nuisance species' like stinging jellyfish.
Attack of the stinging jellyfish: the winners of ocean acidification Jason Hall-Spencer Plymouth University | 16th December 2015 Comment Oceans Climate Change COP21 Ecology Fishing jellyfish-cut.jpg …
We cannot rely on governments in meeting in Paris to solve the many-headed climate problem, writes Vandana Shiva. It's up to us to safeguard the future of the Earth, and of our own and other species. So let's all join in this pact to love and protect our one and only home.
A People's Pact to Protect the Planet Vandana Shiva | 2nd December 2015 Comment Climate Change Farming Water Biodiversity Seeds Trade gaia-cut.jpg We cannot rely on governments in meeting in Paris to …
For long periods animals in ancient oceans could live only in shallow surface waters, above vast 'dead zones' inhabited only by anoxic bacteria, writes Richard Pancost. Human activity is now creating immense new dead zones, and global warming could be helping as it reduces vertical mixing of waters. Could this be the beginning of something big?
Ancient 'dead seas' offer a stark warning for our own future Richard Pancost University of Bristol | 29th January 2016 Comment Oceans Ecology Geology Pollution plesiosaur-cut.jpg For long periods …
Oxygen levels in our oceans are falling, writes Lee Bryant, producing growing 'dead zones' where only the hardiest organisms can survive. The causes are simple: pollution with nutrient-rich wastes, and global warming. But the only solution is to stop it happening - or wait for 1,000 years.
Ocean 'dead zones' are spreading - and that spells disaster for fish Lee Bryant | 9th April 2015 News Oceans Pollution Farming Waste red-tide-dead-fish-cut.jpg Oxygen levels in our oceans are …
Agroecological science must be at the centre of the Agriculture Bill.
The government must embrace fungi Natalie Bennett | 17th July 2020 News Biodiversity Agriculture Bill Fungi wild_mushrooms.jpg Agroecological science must be at the centre of the Agriculture Bill. …
Increased atmospheric CO2 is doing much more than warming the Earth, writes Tony Juniper - it's also acidifying oceans, something that is already having major impacts on ocean ecology in the Southern Ocean and the North Atlantic. Likely effects: more CO2 in the atmosphere, more jellyfish.
COP21 warned on global warming's evil twin - acidifying oceans Tony Juniper | 3rd December 2015 News Oceans Climate Change Ecology Science coccolith-cut.jpg Increased atmospheric CO2 is doing much …
Plastic pollution in the oceans is impacting every level of marine life, writes Kate Rawles, from micro-plankton to whales. And here is your chance to do something about it - join a research expedition to the Azores next month to study the problem and develop solutions!
Microplastic ocean pollution - will you join our research voyage? Kate Rawles | 5th August 2014 Comment Oceans Pollution Consumerism Toxics Oil Science rozalia-fishing-plastic-ceri-lewis-cut.jpg …
Plastic pollution is seen as a growing threat to wildlife as birds, such as fulmars, can mistake it for food.
Plastics toxic for seabirds Nilima Marshall | 19th August 2020 | News Plastic Pollution Biodiversity Wageningen Marine Research Fulmars Plastic pollution is seen as a growing threat to wildlife as …
High levels of toxins mercury and cadmium have been found in all organs of the whales recently beached on Scotland's North Sea coast, including the brain. The research shows that rising mercury levels in the oceans leads to toxic stress in the long-lived marine mammals.
Heavy metal poisoning in Scotland's beached whales The Ecologist | 15th February 2016 News Oceans Cetaeans UK Scotland Pollution Toxics Health pilot-whale-cut.jpg High levels of toxins mercury and …
The entire marine food chain is in danger of collapse because of a decline in tiny phytoplankton, which scientists are linking to climate change and rising ocean surface temperatures.
Marine food chain hit by ocean global warming The Ecologist | 29th July 2010 News Marine Oceans Natural World Climate Change Fishing plankton.jpg The entire marine food chain is in danger of collapse …
Since 2018 almost 1000 hectares of land around lake Bolsena, Italy, has been appropriated by the chemically-grown hazelnuts industry.
Hazelnut crisis in Tuscia James P Graham | 25th November 2020 | News Biodiversity Pesticides Editor’s Picks Italy Since 2018 almost 1000 hectares of land around lake Bolsena, Italy, has been …
Is the species that dwells peacefully within its habitat with respect for the rights of other species the one that is inferior? Or is it the species that wages a holy war against its habitat, destroying all species that irritate it? Paul Watson questions man's monopoly on advanced brain power, and finds a planet suffused with a far deeper intelligence than our own.
The cetacean brain and hominid perceptions of cetacean intelligence Captain Paul Watson | 22nd August 2014 Comment Oceans Ecology whale-shark-diver-cut.jpg Is the species that dwells peacefully …
For decades Israel has been driving Palestinian farmers off their land by imposing restrictions on agriculture, writes JONATHAN COOK. But one company, Canaan Fair Trade, has found an innovative way to resist peacefully, increasing resilience and prosperity in rural West Bank communities, and forging international alliances in the global movement for good food and farming.
Rooted in the soil: the birth of agro-resistance in Palestine Jonathan Cook | 19th August 2016 News Food Farming Middle East Green Economy Seeds Biodiversity Culture picking-olives-cut.jpg For …